LueshiteNaNbO3

Lueshite, a member of the
perovskite group, occurs rarely atMont Saint-Hilaire.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually black.Luster is submetallic.Diaphaneity is opaque.Crystal System is isometric; (??).Crystal Habits include small pseudo-cubic crystals to 1.5mm and deformed pseudo-octahedra.Cleavage {001} is easy.Fracture is conchoidal.Hardness is 5.5Specific Gravity is approximately 4.5 g/cm3.Streak is gray.Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, eudialyte, griceite, lovozerite, pectolite, sodalite, sphalerite, steenstrupine, ussingite and villiaumite.Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit and color.Origin: Named in 1959 after its discovery locality at Lueshe, north of Goma, Zaire.